Well flowing device



June 24, 1941. Q 5 2,246,811

WELL FLOWING DEVICE Filed May 22, 193'? 4 Sheets-Sheet l June 24, 1941.C OTIS 2,246,811

WELL FLOWING DEVICE Filed May 22, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 24, 1941.c. 01-15 WELL FLOWING DEVICE Filed May 22, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I- ll v4 Mi m,

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7} w M a may June 24, 1941. H. c. OTIS WELL FLOWING DEVICE Filed May 22,1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 24, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEWELL FLOWING DEVICE Herbert G. Otis, Dallas, Tex.

Application May 22, 1937, Serial No. 144,252

17 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in well flowingdevices.

In many cases in the present deep drilling of wells prolific gashorizons are passed up for deeper oil production. Eventually thepressure in these deeper oil horizons declines to the point where thewells will no longer flow, making it necessary to resort to'some liftingmeans to raise the oil. Perforating through the well casing into theupper gas sands may admit into the easing ample gas energy to raise theoil, but unless some means of controlling the gas thus admitted isprovided, it is probable that excessive amounts of gas may be producedwith the oil; and when the well is closed in, the gas, if under a higherpressure than the oil, will enter the oil sands, driving the oil backfrom the well bore. If the gas admitted into the well casing through theperforations in the casing is under less pressure than the oil, the oilmay enter the gas sands and drive the gas from the well bore. Theseoccurrences cause underground wastage.

There are instances in oil wells, wherein gas from a higher sand beingunder greater pressure than the gas of :the oil producing sand, flowsdown to the oil producing sands and impairs the oil production. Wheresuch a well casing is closed at the surface, the oil may not be lifted.

One object of the invention is to provide improved means, operable undereach of the conditions above set forth, and arranged so that theavailable gas may be utilized and controlled as a means for lifting theoil.

An important object of this invention is to provide improved means soarranged as to allow the oil and gas to enter the tubing, but to preventeither from escaping into the horizon of the other.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved meansarranged to act either w th or without a casing or formation packer, toeffectively utilize available gas from sub-surface reservoirs, to liftoil.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means co -actingwith a casing or formation packer and arranged to be positioned atpredetermined locations suitable for efficient gas lifting of the oil.

A further object of the invention is to provde an improved fluid liftingand'control choke arranged tobe set and removed with a wire line.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings,in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical, sectional View of a device constructed inaccordance with the invention and installed in a well, the casing ofwhich is perforated at an upper gas sand and packed off from the loweroil producing sand,

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the casing landed in the gas sandsand a formation packer set between the sands,

Figure 3 is a vertical, sectional view illustrating the invention asapplied to a well having a low bottom hole pressure, but a large volumeof free gas in the casing,

Figures 4 and 5 are vertical, sectional views of a flow deviceconstructed in accordance with the invention showing the removable chokefastened in the nipple,

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the choke unfastened andready for removal, the removing tool being omitted,

Figure 7 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 1-1 ofFigure 4,

Figure 8 is a horizontal, sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure5,

Figure 9 is a VleW- Partly in elevation and partly in section, showinganother form of flow device,

Figure 10 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view taken on the line Ill-l0of Figure 9, and

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 9 showing still another form ofthe invention.

In the drawings, the numeral 20 designates the well casing, and 2| thewell tubing which extends axially of said casing. The tubing may have asuitable screen 22 connected to its lower end and this screen is locatedat the bottom of the well hole A. At a predetermined location. a flowdevice 23 is connected in the tubing.

In Figure 1, the casing 20 extends down to the oil sands B. Locatedbelow the flow device 23 are the gas sands C, the casing havingperforations 20' to allow the gas from the sands C to enter the casing.Located in the casing between the sands B and the sands C is anysuitable casing packer 25, packing oil? around the tubing 2|. It will beseen that there may be more or less distance between the two sands. Theoil from the oil sands B will enter the tubing through the screen 22;while the gas will flow into the casing through the perforations and itsadmission to the tubing will be controlled by the flow device 23,hereinafter described. Figure 2 shows another type of well in which theoil sands D and the gas sands E are usually much closer together. Thecasing 20 is landed at the top of the gas sands, and the flow device 23is located just above the bottom of the casing. A formation packer 25 isset in the well hole between the two sands.

Figure 3 shows still another type oi. well in which the oil and gas areproduced from the same sands F. The flow device 23 is placed above thestanding level of the liquid in the casing. The gas in solution in theoil entering the tubing 2! through the screen 22 will cause the columnof fluid to rise in the said tubing to a point above the flow device 23.The free gas, which in this type of well, would be in volume in thecasing, will enter the flow device and lift the liquid within the tubing2!. The packers 25 and 25' are not needed in a well of this type.

The flow device includes a housing or nipple 24 having external screwthreads at each end so as to be connected in the tubing 2'! by the usualcollars. At its lower end the nipple has an internal beveled seat 26 forreceiving the beveled flange 29 which is located at the lower end of acheck valve assembly 2?. This flange is formed on the lower end of atubular mandrel 28 having an axial bore 28. The upper end of saidmandrel is so constructed as to form a seat 3! for a ball valve 32.Below and adjacent said seat there are provided in the mandrel externalannular grooves 33 for receiving tools (not shown) for setting the valveassembly in or removing the same from the nipple 26. Nonmetallic packingcups 34 supported and spaced by thimbles 35 surrounding the mandrel, arecarried by the flange 29. The cups and thimbles are confined by aretaining nut 36. Thus it will be seen that fluid from the tubing 2ibelow the check valve assembly 27 may flow up through the bore 28 of themandrel 28, unseat the ball valve 32 and enter the nipple. However, whenthe pressure of the fluids above the ball 32 becomes greater than thepressure below said ball, said greater fluid pressure will act upon theball 32 and reseat it upon the seat 3i. Thus it will be seen that fluidwill be free to flow upwardly through the valve assembly 2i, but nofluid or fluid pressure can escape downwardly through the valve assemblywhen the ball is seated.

A choke 31 is arranged to be removably fastened in the housing 23. Thischoke includes a tubular mandrel 38 comprising an upper section 31', anda lower section 38, screwed thereto. At its lower portion the section 3?has a beveled base 40 adapted to come to rest on a beveled seat 4| atthe lower end of an annular, vertically elongated recess 42, in theupper portion of the housing 23. The housing has a double mveled stopring 43 at the upper end of the recess.

A locking device similar to that set forth in my co-pendingapplications, Serial No. 26,671 and Serial No. 18.788 is mounted on theupper mandrel section 31 and includes swinging and radially movinglocking dogs 44 having double beveled heads 45 at their lower endsadapted to engage in the recess 42. These dogs are mounted in a carrier46 (Figures 4 and 6) slidable on the mandrel. The shanks of the dogsextend loosely through a beveled stop collar 41 integral with themandrel section 31'. The upper end of the mandrel section has an annulargroove 48 for aaeaeii attaching suitable running tools (not shown). Thisdevice is operated as set forth in the aforesaid applications, beinglowered by a suitable tool (not shown), until the base 40 rests upon thebevel seat ll and the collar 41 engages the stop ring 43.

The mandrel section 3'! has an inclined enlargement or spreader boss 49extending upwardly from the base 40. When the choke is being-run intothe well or removed therefrom the carrier 46 is elevated so that theinner bevels 45' of the dogs are at the upper end of the boss, whichpermits the heads 45 to move inward and pass through the stop ring 43.However, when the carrier is released and slid downwardly the dogs arespread by the boss so that their heads 45 project into the recess 42.With the dogs so spread the upward movement of the choke is limited bythe engagement of the dogs 45 with the stop ring 43.

The lower mandrel section 38' has external screw threads 50 at its upperend engaging in a threaded smket 55 in the base 40, whereby the twosections are united. The extent of the threads 56 is such as to receivean annular nut 52 which fastens in place a thimble 53 (Figure 4)engaging in a packing cup 54 mounted on the mandrel. The cup 54 confinesan inverted packing cup 55 on an undercut shoulder 56 on said mandrel.These cups are expanded by upward and downward fluid pressures, intosealing engagement with the smooth bore of the housing 23.

Below the cups 54 and 55 the mandrel has an enlargement 5'11 providedwith a metering port 58, preferably inclined upward to direct theadmitted pressure fluid into the upwardly flowing well stream. At thelower end of the enlargement, cups 54 and 55 are held by a thimble 53'and a cap nut 58 against a shoulder 56. The cups E5 and 55' are opposedso as to confine the pressure fluid therebetween and prevent its escapeeither upwardly or downwardly in the easmg.

The housing 23 has a pressure fluid (gas or air) admitting port 60located so as to be confined between the packing cups 55 and 55' at allpositions of the choke. By changing the lower mandrel section 38',different sizes of metering ports 58 may be had. The cap nut 59 hasinlet ports 65 and by changing this nut different sizes of ports may beused. The ports 63 may be of such size as not to restrict the flow orthey may be reduced to restrict the flow; or the cap may be omittedentirely if some means is provided to prevent the ball 32 sealing thelower end of the choke.

In operation the housing 23 is connected in the tubing at any desiredlocation while the tubing string 29 is being lowered into the Well. Whenthe tubing string has been run the check valve assembly 277 is loweredinto position and seated upon the shoulder 26 at the lower end of thehousing. The packing cups 34 will seal oiT around said valve assembly.The choke 31 is then lowered into the tubing, being supported and set asdescribed in said co-pending applications and positioned as shown inFigure 6. While the choke is being lowered the carrier 46 and dogs 44are free to ride up the mandrel. When the head 40 at the lower end ofthe upper mandrel section 31' engages the seat 4|, the running too] isdisconnected and withdrawn from the well.

The choke has been run down the tubing under pressure and when released,will be moved upwardly from the position shown in Figure 6 to theposition shown in Figure 4, by the well pressure. In some instances thepressure below the choke may not be suflicient to move the same upwardlyand in such a case the frictional contact of the packing cups I4, 54', Iand 55, with the wall of the nipple 24, will be adequate to hold thechoke in place. After the check valve assembly 21 and choke are set, theliquid through the metering port 58, and into the flow stream in thetubing, thereby aiding in the lifting of the well fluids in the usualway. It is pointed out that if the pressure within the tubing overcomesthe pressure of the liquid flowing up through the check valve assembly21 located at the bottom of the well, the ball 32 will be seated andkeep the lifting fluid from flowing down the tubing and reaching lowerhorizons.

Figures 9 and 10 show another form wherein the housing 23 is shortenedand its lower end is secured to the tubing 2! by a collar 65. The chokeis substantially the same except that in place of the cap nut 59, avalve case or sleeve (it is screwed onto the lower end of the lowermandrel section 38' and extends into the tubing M. A nipple B1 isscrewed into the lower end of the sleeve and a valve ball 68 is seatedupon the upper end of said tube. The upward movement of the ball islimited by a cross pin 69. This valve controls the back pressure flow inthe same manner as the valve 21.

Mounted on the housing is a fluid check valve ill having the bore ll ofits case communicating with the port 60. A nipple I2 is screwed into thevalve case to provide a seat 13 at its upper end for a valve ball 14 inthe bore II. In operation, the lifting fluid from the casing entersthrough the nipple 12, whereby the ball valve 14 is unseated, and thefluid passes through the bore 'H and the port 60 into the housing 23,and then into the choke through the port 58, thereby lifting the liquidwhich has entered through the nipple 61 located at the lower end of thechoke. If the fluids in the tubing set up a back pressure whichovercomes the lifting fluid pressure in the casing, said fluid pressurefrom the tubing will act upon the ball valve 14 thereby closing saidvalve, and preventing the fluid in the tubing from escaping into thecasing. It is pointed out that the check valve 10 may be used upon theform (Figures 1 to 8) first described and will act in the same manner asherein described.

In Figure 11 there is shown another form of the invention in which thelocking dogs 44 and the recess 42 are eliminated. Instead of thecomplete mandrel 31 an upper tubular mandrel section 80 is employed.This mandrel section has an internally screw-threaded socket 80' at itslower end arranged toreceive the upper screwthreaded end 50 of the lowermandrel section 38, heretofore described. While it would be possible touse the nipple 24 with the recess 42, such recess is not required, andtherefore, may be omitted, as shown.

At the upper end of the nipple the bevelled stop ring 43 is employed.The mandrel section 80 is provided with a stop collar 8| having anundercut bevelled shoulder 82 adapted to rest on the stop ring 43 andlimit the downward movement of the choke. Above the collar the mandrelis provided with a fishing neck 83 and an annular flange 84 which has agroove 48' similar to the groove 48 and for the same purpose.

The form illustrated in Figure 11 is particularly adapted forinstallations where there is little or slight pressure below the chokeor when the pressure differential across the choke is low; and which isnot suflicient to force the choke upwardly. In this installation, thefrictional con tact of the packing cups of the choke with the bore ofthe nipple are depended upon to hold the choke in position. In someformations the gas producing sands may be below the oil sands and insuch an event the oil and gas inlets would be reversed; that is, oilwould enter through the ports 58 and 60, while gas would be admittedthrough the valve assembly 21.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Well flowing and controlling means including, a well tubing, a nipplearranged to be connected in the well tubing and having a gas inlet, aremovable choke mounted in the nipple and having a gas inlet to admitgas into the choke from the nipple and also having an oil inlet, andmeans removably mounted in the nipple below the choke for preventingfluids from the nipple back flowing down the tubing to the oil producingsand, the choke being removable independently of said latter means.

2. Well flowing and controlling means including, a well tubing. a nipplearranged to be connected in the well tubing and having a gas inlet, aremovable choke mounted in the nipple and having a gas inlet to admitgas into the choke from the nipple and also having an oil inlet, aninternal annular seat within the nipple below the choke, and a valveassembly supported on said seat for preventing fluids from the nippleback flowing down the tubing to the oil producing sand, the choke beingremovable independently of said valve assembly.

3. Well flowing and. controlling means including, a well tubing, anipple arranged to be connected in the well tubing and having a gasinlet, a removable choke mounted in the nipple and having a gas inlet toadmit gas into the choke from the nipple and also having an oil inlet,an internal annular seat within the nipple below the choke, a valveassembly supported on said seat and comprising a tubular mandrel havingmeans for packing off the space between the mandrel and nipple wherebyflow of fluid is through the mandrel, and a valve for closing the upperend of the valve mandrel to prevent fluid from the nipple back flowingdown the tubing to the oil producing sand, the choke being removablefrom the nipple without disturbing the valve assembly.

4. Well flowing and controlling means for controlling the flow of fluidsfrom upper and lower horizons of tubed wells including, a well tubing, anipple arranged to be connected in the well tubing and having a gasinlet, means for packing off the well outside of the tubing between theupper and lower horizons and below the gas inlet of the nipple, aremovable choke mounted in the nipple having a well liquid inlet and agas inlet for metering the admitted gas to the flow stream, and meansremovable independently of said choke within the nipple below the chokefor shutting oif the flow of gas through the tubing to the lowerproducing horizon, the choke being removable from the nipple withoutdisturbing said latter means to thus maintain a mechanical separation ofthe pressure fluids with respect to upper and lower horizons.

5. Well flowing and controlling means including, a well tubing, a nipplearranged to be connected in the well tubing and having a gas inlet, aremovable choke mounted in the nipple and having a gas inlet and an oil'inlet, means removable independently of the choke for preventing fluidsfrom the nipple back flowing down the tubing to the oil producing sand,and valve means connected with the gas inlet of the nipple forpreventing back flow of fluid from the tubing, into the casing in theevent back pressure in the tubing overcomes lifting fluid pressure inthe casing.

6. Well flowing and controlling means including, a well tubing, a nipplearranged to be connected in the well tubing and having a gas inlet,means connected with the gas inlet of the nipple for preventing backflow of fluid from the tubing, a removable choke mounted in the nippieand having a gas inlet to admit gas into the choke from the nipple andalso having an oil inlet, and means removably mounted in the nipplebelow the choke and independently of the latter for preventing fluidsfrom the nipple back flowing down the tubing to the oil producing sand,the choke being thus rendered removable without disturbing said lattermeans.

'7. Well flowing and controlling means including, a well tubing, anipple arranged to be connected in the well tubing and having a gasinlet, a valve connected with the gas inlet of the nipple arranged toclose when subjected to a back pressure, a removable choke mounted inthe nipple and having a gas inlet to admit gas into the choke from thenipple and also having an oil inlet, an internal annular seat within thenipple below the choke, and a valve assembly supported on said seatindependently of said choke for preventing fluids from the nipple backflowing down the tubing to the oil producing sand, the choke beingremovable from the nipple without disturbing .the valve assembly.

8. Well flowing and controlling means including a well tubing, a nipplearranged to be connected in the well tubing and having a gas inlet, achoke removably mounted in the nipple and having a gas inlet to admitgas into the choke from the nipple and also having an oil inlet, valvemeans removably mounted in the nippic below the choke for preventingfluids from the nipple back flowing down the tube to the oil producingsand, the choke being removable independently of and without disturbingsaid valve means, and means for positively locking the choke in positionwithin the nipple against movement in either direction.

9. In combination in a well, a well tubing set to admit oil at its lowerend, a nipple arranged to be connected in said tubing and having aninlet opening for gas only located intermediate its ends, a chokeremovably mounted in the nipple provided with a flow passage extendinglongitudinally therethrough and open at its lower end for admitting oilflowing up the tubing, said choke having a side gas inlet communicatingwith the gas inlet opening of the nipple, packers on the choke above andbelow the gas inlet for packaaaasn for preventing liquids back flowingto the tubing below the nipple.

10. In combination in a well, a well tubing set to admit oil at itslower end, a nipple arranged to be connected in said tubing above theoil level outside of the tubing and having an inlet opening for gas onlylocated intermediate its ends, a choke removably mounted in the nippleprovided with a flow passage extending longitudinally therethrough andopen at its lower end for adinltting oil flowing up the tubing, saidchoke having a side gas inlet communicating with the gas inlet openingof the nipple, packers on the choke above and below the gas inlet forpacking oil the tubing, and means within the nipple and co-acting withthe flow passage of the choke for preventing liquids back flowing to thetubing below the nipple.

ll. In a well, the combination with an underlying oil stratum and anoverlying gas stratum separated therefrom, of a tubing extending throughthe gas stratum into the oil stratum, a packer in the well between thestrata for packing oh the tubing, a nipple connected in the tubing abovethe packer and having a gas inlet inter mediate its ends for admittinggas from the gas stratum, a removable choke mounted in the nipple havingan inlet for receiving oil from the tubing below said packer andprovided with a side gas inlet for receiving gas from the inlet of thenipple, and means in the nipple for preventing both oil and gas backflowing to the oil stratum.

12. In combination in a well, a tubing set to admit oil at its lowerend, a nipple arranged to be connected in said tubing and having aninlet opening for gas only located intermediate its ends, a chokeremovably mounted in the nipple and provided with a flow passageextending longitudinally therethrough open at its lower end foradmitting oil flowing up the tubing, said choke having a side gas inletcommunicating with the gas inlet opening of the nipple, packers on thechoke above and below the gas inlet for packing ofl the tubing, andmeans mounted in the nipple below the choke for preventing liquids backflowing from the nipple.

13. In combination in a well, a well tubing set to admit oil at itslower end, a nipple arranged to be connected in said tubing and havingan inlet opening for gas only located intermediate its ends, a chokeremovably mounted in the nipple and provided with a flow passageextending longitudinally therethrough open at its lower end foradmitting oil flowing up the tubing, said choke having a side gas inletcommunicating with the gas inlet opening of the nipple, packers on thechoke above and below the gas inlet for packing off the tubing, and avalve assembly removably mounted in the nipple below the choke forpreventing liquids back flowing from said nipple.

14. A well flowing and controlling device for tubed wells wherein isprovided a well tubing for conducting well fluids to the surface andhaving a housing connected therein with its bore communicating with thetubing, said housing having therein a lateral inlet from the well, incombination with a removable element having a lateral flow inlet and aflow passage establishing communication between the well through theflow inlets and the tubing above said element, said element having meansfor preventing flow down the passage thereof, and valve check means forpreventing back flow oi fluids from the well tuba ing above the passageof the said element and by way of said passage through to the well.

1s. A well flowing and controlling device, as set forth in claim 14 andsealing means interposed between the housingand. said element adjacentthe flow inlets thereof for directing the-flow of fluids entering thehousing into the flow-inlet o1 said removable element. v

16'. A well flowing and controlling deviceior tubed wells wherein isprovidedaweil tubing for conducting well fluids to the surface andhavinga housing connected therein with its bore communicating with the tubing,said housing having therein a lateral inlet from the well, incombination with a removable element having a'lateral the flow inletsflow inlet and a flow passage establishing comthe housing into the flowinlet of said removable element.

17. A well flowing and controlling device as set forth in claim 16 andvalve check means for preventing back flow of fluids from the welltubing above the passage of said element and by way of said passagethrough the flow inlets to the well.

HERBERT C. OTIS.

